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James Dean of Sebring, greeting old and new friends.

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James Dean

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Hello from James Dean....I have probably been doing this a lot longer than some of you, but am doing so from my new Location, in Sebring Florida.. I bought my first Jaguar, a 1954 XK120 Drophead coupe with a week's pay from a summer construction job in 1967, and took it to Colgate University, where I graduated with an Anthropology degree in in 1968.To maintain the Jaguar, I tuned sports cars on campus, and had to miss a week's classes, when I dropped a valve, from using ether to start it all winter. It brought me Wrath from a lovely Lady , whose feet were frozen on a ski trip, and On long winter trips on the NY Thruway, 200 pounds of ice would freeze around each front wheel; so I could not turn them when I reached a rest stop. I tried corporate life with Proctor and Gamble, found my first MG, a 1934 MGPA, and smuggled it to Boston in back of a company truck.I changed to Law School there, and started a Jaguar shop in Cambridge. Jaguars won over Forensic Rhetoric, but I had seafaring ancestors... A day in Newport changed my life, when I talked my way aboard the last big Lunenburg Schooner (built 1939) for a 2 week vacation to the Bahamas. I sold my Mini to finance this fantasy; but sooned learned about old ships, becalmed and rolling in the Gulf stream, as I did a valve job on the Fairbanks Morse Diesel. By Ft. Lauderdale, I was hired as Engineer, and vowed to never see ice again.I saw the Bahamas and after a collision at sea; I left to sail through the out islands to San Juan on a small sloop, worked for the Jaguar dealer there; then as Engineer on a Feadship yacht; By 1975 was back in Ft.Lauderdale, starting Old English Motor Company, in an old marina in a Coconut grove. Jaguar restoration had won again.I bought every old English car that came down for Spring Break and expired behind a gas station, and built my massive parts inventory. It was once a fascinating City; but Developers ruined Ft.Lauderdale... The Great American Dream Ends there... I knew I had to leave. It took me 6 years and 125 trips to move it all to the charming town of Sebring Florida.I now have an old building in the Downtown Historic District, with one of the largest parts inventories in America. I still offer free restoration advice, and enjoy sharing both the parts and knowledge I have acquired over almost a half century; So contact me any time, and if you go to the Sebring Race,please drop by to see me.. Thank you, James Dean. 275 Pomegranate Avenue, Sebring Florida, 33870 , Phone 1954JAGPART (1 954 524 7278) email jaguru@bellsouth.net IMG_6894.jpg
 
Welcome James!

It sounds like I have yet another reason to go to Sebring. Many of my pals tow down for the Winter races, but I am stilling reporting to work so cannot take that much time off. Soon.

I bought my first sports car (an MGA 1500) in 1967 so we are about "even".

I did actually buy an Austin A-40 in '65 but that was an unlicensed "woods car" I drove illegally in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the British Car Forum!
 
Welcome to the forum, sounds like you have had a very interesting life..
I live just south of Tampa and often do motorcycles rides in your area, I might stop by to check out your shop and say hello.
 
Wow, quite the story! I'd say it's a safe bet you have a bit more car experience than I do :smile:

Welcome! Hopefully I can learn a thing or two from you!
 
I have learned a lot of things, that I am glad to share, and have a lot of parts I'd like to see back on the road again;I think I ended up with most of the cars that came to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break, but never made it home; and their parts now fill my Sebring warehouse... However you have much more experience sliding around corners than I, I leaned more towards restoration, photographed everything; so have detailed shots of everything, that could help someone. I probably spent the price of an Etype developing 35 MMfilm.. until the Digital camera was invented....Then my scrapbooks stopped.. Thanks James
 
My James Dean you have certainly had an interesting life. As you probably already know this a grand group of pleasantry and knowledge. You'll fit right in. Welcome!
 
Welcome to the forum!
 
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